Quote: mark_m "I can assure you that it does mean something to the players. They want to be seen as first choice in their position.'"
I don't know the answer to this btw, but how many times a season do you see a team play 1-13? If you're outside the 13, you're going to get a chance to play and if you do well enough, you'll keep your place. Players don't play any different because they have a different number on their back
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mark_m "Quote: mark_m "Why is anybody bothered about what numbers players have. They'll play the same if they have 6, 29, 450 or the letter H on their back.'"
Bob, whilst I might agree with your sentiment about shirt numbers, it wouldn't matter to me personally, I'm not so sure that it applies to everyone even professional players.
Numbers rightly or wrongly, do have significance beyond simple playing positions especially the key ones IMO. For example, when there was a debate about Ratchford at FB the consensus seemed to be that TS first choice at FB was Russell as he had the No 1 shirt although admittedly it didn't seem to bother Ratchford the year before when he displaced Hodgson.
Apart from affording rank, for example your in the first 11, 13, 17 etc players can be superstitious about numbers and often a certain number is allocated to the team's star performer which might be a confidence boost or a burden although this usually applies more to football, United's 7 being a prime example.
All in all it probably as simple as it should be'"
Players can be superstitious but it shouldn't make a difference to performance. Especially at professional levels.
United's no 7 is one of the biggest myths in the game.
